Egg crate



' Feb. 22 1927;

B. A. LANGE EGG CRATE Filed March 5, 1924 Patented Feb. 22, 1927K.

iiassi e, UNITED vSTATES PATENroFineE'.y

` BERTHOLD A. LANGE, OF LOUIS, MISSGURI.

EGG CRATE.

Y applicati@ ined Marsh 5,1924.' seriai'No. 696,991.1

i The transportation of eggs is one of the largest and most difficult phases' of commerce. vThe value of the egg and'its fragility combine to make any saving of breakage of eXtreme economic importance, Many kinds of egg-cases or fillers have been tried, but all possess some defect or another. The construction herein shown and described is one of the best for Vprotecting the eggs from breakage, and the specific object of this form, and showing two of thev fillers ar-V ranged in tiers.

Referring to both modifications as shown in Figuresv 'l and 2, the crate filler or eggcase is composed of a plurality of interlocking partitions 1 and 2 arranged at substantially a right angle to each other and fastened together by any suitable looking means at the points where theyv pass or join each other. This may be accomplished by slits 3 in partitions l, allowing partitions l to fit down in lnotches 4; in partitions 2. Otherwise stated, the partitions l and 2 are each slit and turned in opposite directions, so that each fits in the slit in the other.

Frojections 5 prevent the transmission' of shock or jar or slippage to the eggs inserted in the compartments 6, acting as a buffer and preventing telescoping. When the said extensions or projections 5 are bent or broken, the breakage is greatly increased. rlhis is especially apt to occur when the partitions become curved or flexed laterally under unequal stresses, so that one, or only a few, of the extensions 5 must bear the full j force incurred 'by impact with the sides of the outer box or container for holding the fillers.

, To prevent or minimize'this condition, and, also, for the purpose of stiffening the structure generally, upper flanges 7 and lower flanges S are formed as integral extensions from any of the end ones of the partitions 1 and 2. A flange 7 overlies the top edge of projections 5 along one side of the filler, and a flange 8 underlies the bottom edge of other projections 5, along'another side of the filler. Y A

' lWhile a flange 7 stiffens the top side of the crate it is entirely inadequate for stiffening the same in a practical manner, because it Vdoes not impart the desired stability by itself. n It'leaves the crate in a distinctly collapsible condition, which is very detrimental in egg shipments. It is only by the introduction of 'the other fiangerS on the bottom side of the filler that the filler assumes the desired and4 necessary rmness and stiffness. yFlanges 7 and 8 stiffen the filler from both sides, namely top and'bottom, respectively. Vvlth only flange 7, and under the vicissitudes of. transportation, the eggs will be broken by the shifting in shape of the filler. lVith the addition of the flange 8, however, and the bearing down of weight upon flange S, considerable rigidity is imparted to the structure as a whole, with the result that it becomesl practically immovable. The flanges 7 and'S, besides stiifening the structurey against flexing, also protect the projections 5. n

A diaphragm 9 is commonly used between tiers of egg-crates, as shown in Figure 2.

Those upper and lower edges of the projections 5 covered by the flanges 7 and 8, respectively, ar preferably lower, as shown at 10 in Figure 2 part of flange 7 being broken away to show this feature), than the remaining horizontal edges of the partitions notl covered by the flanges 7 and 8, so that the outside faces'ofthe flanges 7 and 8 lie in plane with the free lor uncovered horizontal edges of the filler.

In ther form depicted in Figure l, the parallel end walls l have both upper lianges 7 and lower flanges 8; while in the forni shown in Figure 2, an eud wall l has only the upper flange 7, the'lower flange 8 projecting from the bottom of end wall 2. Otherwise stated, all the flanges of Figure l eX- tend in the same direction, while in Figure 2 the upper flange 7 is at right angies to the lower flange 8. The forni of Figure 2,

of being stiifened in two directions. In the formshown in Figure 2, instead of single fiange 7 and a single fiange S, a pair of flanges 7 on parallel end walls; and a pair of flanges 8 on parallel end walls 2 may be used. y Y

Having thus described thisinvention,v I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in therefore, posseses the additional advantage form, arrangement, order, or use of parte, as it is evident that many minor changes muy he mede therein Without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A cellular filler for eggrmtes comprisingr n plurality of intersectingr strips oit ninterial spaced from each other to provide n series o1 egg-cells, the ends ot Suid strips et erich side't'orlning projections extending hc- `rond `the outer strip et that side, one set ot oppoeitely directed projections being cut- ;iwny to present reduit-Led terminal portions, and n pair of stripe ot materiel arranged on the opposite sides of :reid filleri euch strip having integral` top and bot-toni Menges throughout its entire length sind extending.;` outwardly and lyingl in the same plaine with the top rind bottoni edges respectivei;iv ot the intersectingr strips that run parelel with said pair of stripe, the reduced terminal portions of said intersecting strips being engaged be tween the said flanges and terminating Hush with the outer ends thereof.

if. A cellular filler for egg-Crates conip1'is :forming projections extending' beyond the outer strip :it that side, one eet-ol oppositely directed pjrojectioiqisheing euteziwny to detine reduced terinmall portions? and :i pair ot strips oit nniterizd arriuxgged on the opposite i Side of said iller :ind having their ends terminating' flush with he projeetingg ends oi" the parallel intersenting strips, smid pair o? striplnwingr integral tol) :ind `bottoni (hinges througgljlont their ciuiirelength und extend? ing; ollinijziriiiy and lying in the .seine 1plane n. th the top nndhottoni edges reepeetively ot the interseeting` strips that riurperallel with `uid parir o" strips, the reduced termi# nel Aportion ofsziid intere etingr strips beine; en aged between the Seid Henger; end tei n nnting flush with the outer ende thereof."

ln testimony whereof l hereunto ntlii; my

signature. i i

BERTHOLD A. LNGE. 

